Preds players chime on on negotiations

Is there hope on the horizon in regards to the collective bargaining sessions between the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association? It’s tough to say right now, but with negotiations lined up this weekend in New York to discuss non-major issues, there’s a thought that maybe things will get kick-started. The league locked out its players on Sept. 15 and canceled the entire preseason schedule on Sept. 27.

“Hopefully we can get down and at least start negotiating. It feels like we haven’t been in that place for a few weeks, for whatever reason it has been tough to get things going,” Predators forward Mike Fisher said. “I think it has been positioning by the owners. I don’t think they’re in a hurry to get back. Hopefully we can get something going, because the longer we wait the worse it gets.”

Still, with both sides far apart on the major economics of the league going into this weekend, there’s little suspense at the moment that a deal can be reached in the next three days.

“It’s a frustrating process to say the least,” defenseman Hal Gill said. “You think you can go in and get it done and hopefully you can be with your teammates which sounds great. It’s a process and you have to be a little bit patient. You think something is going to happen, and maybe it doesn’t. So you have to wait for something good to come”

Blum to Milwaukee: Defenseman Jonathon Blum said he will drive to Nashville’s AHL affiliate in Milwaukee on Saturday. Blum said he signed a deal with the Admirals for the duration of the lockout. Training camp is scheduled to start Monday.